| CODE | ISS5125 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Health Systems and Policy in Small States | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Islands and Small States Institute | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-units will cover the following themes: - Epidemiological characteristics relating to health outcomes in small states - Health systems constraints in small states - Health system advantages and assets in small states - An analysis of health indicators of small states in a global setting - Health policy implementation in a small state setting - Financing health care - Coping with tourism and immigration in small states - Intersectoral approaches to health policy - Health information systems characteristics in small populations - Measuring and managing health system performance in small states Study-Unit Aims: The aims of this study-unit are to introduce the concepts and frameworks that are applied in the study of health systems with a critical perspective as applied to small states. The study-unit also aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary to develop a critical understanding of the requirements for effective, equitable and efficient health systems maximising the opportunities offered by small state settings whilst working to mitigate the constraints that arise from small populations, small markets and insularity. In addition, the study-unit also aims to provide students with practical skills in undertaking a literature review and using health information resources effectively for health services research. The study unit therefore combines the theoretical aspects related to the latest content in the discipline of health systems and health policy together with skills used in health systems and policy research. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Consolidate an understanding of the epidemiological characteristics in small states; - Appraise the constraints faced by small states in the governance and delivery of health services; - Evaluate the advantages that a small state enjoys in the organisation and delivery of health services; - Review and recommend suitable policies aimed at addressing the special health constraints faced by small states. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Organise a systematic literature review on a selected topic within the discipline of health systems; - Critically analyse a country health system in a systematic manner; - Utilise online health information resources for comparative health systems research. including international health databases particularly those of the World Health Organisation, World Bank, Institute of Health Metrics Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - De Savigny D, Blanchet K, Adam T. Applied systems thinking for health systems research: a methodological handbook. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017. - Braithwaite J, Mannion R, Matsuyama Y, Shekelle P, Whittaker S, Al-Adawi S. Editors: Health Systems Improvement Across the Globe: Success Stories from 60 Countries; Taylor & Francis. 2016. ISBN 9781472482044. Supplementary Readings: - Greer SL, Wismar M, Figueras J, Vasev N. Policy lessons for health governance. Strengthening Health System Governance. 2016:105. - Azzopardi-Muscat N., Funk T., Buttigieg S., Grech K., Brand H. Policy challenges and reforms in small EU Member States health systems: A narrative literature review. European Journal of Public Health; (2016) 26 (6): 916-922. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw091. - Azzopardi-Muscat N. & Camilleri C. (forthcoming). Challenges and Opportunities for the Health Sector in Small States. Handbook of Small States: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues, UK, Routledge (2018). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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